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If you are staying safe at home with a roommate or family member, try this partner workout led by pro runners Aisha Praught-Leer and Will Leer.
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Try this partner workout with Great Britain Track & Field athletes Shannon Hylton and Cheriece Hylton.
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Performance nutritionist Dr. Marc Bubbs provides tips on how to snack less.
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Pro heptathlete Georgia Ellenwood takes you through an at-home bodyweight workout.
For more inspiration, check out “Workout Routines” in the app to discover and log a wide variety of routines by Under Armour Performance Specialists. Or build your own routine with exercises that fit your goals.
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Fire up the legs in this home workout with pro runner Rachel Schneider.
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Performance nutritionist Dr. Marc Bubbs explores sources of vitamin D: sun exposure, supplementation and food.
The post Sources of Vitamin D appeared first on Under Armour.
Take 10 minutes to sweat with health & fitness coach Emily Ricketts’ at-home AMRAP workout.
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Sport psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais proposes 3 C’s we can practice to become more resilient.
The post Building Resiliency with Dr. Michael Gervais appeared first on Under Armour.
Chaga goes by several names. The botanical name for the fungus is Inonotus obliquus. The Chinese call it Hua Jie Kong Jun or Bai Hua Rong.1 While it is often referred to as a mushroom, it grows as a dense black colored mass on the outside of trees. Most commonly it infects birch trees.
Chaga does not form a fruiting body the way most mushrooms do, but rather a mass of mycelia that incorporates decaying bits of the birch tree it grows on. Mycelia are microscopic vegetative fungi parts that combine to create a whole growing organism.2
As they grow out from the center they consume the nutrients, leaving an open ring. As the growth spreads, it consumes what's around it. This classifies most fungi as parasites and decomposers.
The inside of the chaga is a rusty, yellow brown color that may be mottled or have cream-colored veins.3 A chaga infection doesn't usually show up on a tree until it's reached 40 years or more. The tree can usually withstand the infection for about 20 years before it ultimately dies.
Those who harvest chaga chop it from the tree and then allow it to regrow for three to 10 years before it is harvested again. However, harvesting does not stop the infection.
When compared to other medicinal fungi, research has shown chaga has strong antioxidant activity. However, it was the infrequently found fruiting body in one study that exhibited the highest potential.4
Until the 1990s, just a few countries in Southeast Asia and Russia5 were using chaga as folk medicine.6 One of the first recorded clinical trials was done in the 1950s at the Moscow Medical Institute.7 Studies have continued with scientists evaluating chaga's uses in immune regulation, digestion, nervous system functioning, cardiovascular activities and respiratory system support.
There is also research into its potential to help slow the growth of tumors in patients with cancer. While the early history of chaga is not well documented, we do know indigenous people in Russia used it to help their digestion. They wrote that it made them feel full and helped with internal cleaning, a process Westerners call detoxification.
The anti-inflammatory properties likely made chaga useful as a soap when combined with lard and ash to help soothe skin sores.8 Chaga was often prepared as a tea (and still is) and taken until the individual felt better.
Another group of people living on the Kuril Islands just off the northeast coast of Russia used it for stomach pain and inflammation.9 Some also smoked pipes filled with powdered chaga during religious ceremonies. There are no known medicinal effects from smoking the powder, but it is clear that inhaling burning material, such as tobacco, can damage your lungs.
Many of the health benefits may be the result of immune support and anti-inflammatory properties, as shown in several studies. The polysaccharides found in fungal growths are the primary component used to support the immune system.10
In a review of the literature, researchers found extractions or aqueous solutions of chaga at different concentrations11 demonstrated effectiveness against herpes simplex virus 2, influenza virus H3N2 and HIV-1. They also found it has antiretroviral activity and wrote:12
"Aqueous extracts and melanin derived from natural chaga Inonotus obliquus exhibit activity against many viruses: human immunodeficiency type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, West Nile, influenza, vaccinia and monkeypox viruses [31, 34]. This broad spectrum of antiviral activity is associated with complex composition of compounds."
In one lab study13 using the BELYU1102 strain of Inonotus obliquus, researchers found the active polysaccharides from chaga improved production of IgM antibodies, but didn't have an effect on the expression of several other types of immune cells, including T cells.
Extracts from chaga fungus demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties in the lab14 and in animal studies15 as well as pain reduction response in vitro and in vivo in an animal study.16 In mice, oral administration specifically reduced the inflammatory effects of colitis.17
Two compounds unique to the chaga fungus are betulin and betulinic acid.18 The fungus gets these from the birch trees on which it grows. The leaders of one study19 evaluated the effectiveness of these two compounds, plus inotodiol, which is also found in chaga in the treatment of cancer cells in the lab.
The researchers used growths from a stand of trees discovered in Normandy, France. They compared those to concentrations found in chaga harvested in Ukraine and in Canada under colder conditions. The goal was to explore potential cytotoxicity against cancer-derived cells and compare the concentration of metabolites using chaga from three locations.
Human lung adenocarcinoma cells and human bronchial epithelial cells were used, with researchers finding that the French stand of trees had more betulin and betulinic acid than the other two. However, the Canadian trees had higher levels of inotodiol. In an animal study using the whole chaga fungus, researchers demonstrated daily intake reduced primary tumors by 60% and metastatic growth by 25%.20
The fungus appears to have in vitro and in vivo effects against tumor cells in animals. While investigating the mechanism of action, some scientists have found the compounds do not appear to have a direct effect against tumor cells, but rather an indirect effect by stimulating the immune system.21,22
Another animal model23 was used to examine different components against colon cancer cells; researchers found ergosterol peroxide was the most effective of all chaga's components in inhibiting growth. They found the compound also suppressed proliferation and inhibited colitis-like symptoms by down-regulating a signaling pathway that increased cancer cell death.
Results from lab studies24 demonstrate an ethanol extract of the chaga mushroom could inhibit human colon cancer cell proliferation. Chaga also contributes to improved quality of life during and after chemotherapy and radiation treatments by reducing side effects from a compromised immune system.25
Researchers have also found that the antioxidants in the fungus can prevent the development of cancer cells26 and that they may be active against human prostate and breast cancer cells.27
In 2018, 26.8 million people in the U.S. had a diagnosis of diabetes. The American Diabetes Association28 estimates there were another 7.3 million who were undiagnosed. It is the seventh leading cause of death and a contributing factor in others.29
To impact this devastating condition, researchers continue to seek out nutritional supplements to help stabilize blood glucose, as uncontrolled blood glucose is a symptom of diabetes but not the cause. The polysaccharides found in the fungal growth of chaga had a therapeutic effect on blood glucose levels in a study involving animals.30
After diabetes was induced in rats, they were fed chaga polysaccharides. The intervention restored abnormal indices, including blood glucose and it alleviated oxidative stress. Additionally, the treatment lowered proinflammatory cytokines and aided in the partial recovery of pancreatic beta-cells responsible for producing insulin.
The authors of a literature review found similar results.31 In another animal study, researchers found the water-soluble and water-insoluble polysaccharides had a hypoglycemic effect, most notably from "β-glucan, heteroglucan, and their protein complexes."32
Chaga produced in Russia is under strict directions for the valuation of the individual harvest and production of derivatives, which are different from the rest of the world.33 Russian law limits the extraction to a hot water process that reduces or eliminates the bioavailability of terpenes, such as betulinic acid.
The research data on chaga outside of Russia demonstrate these components have powerful health benefits. Like most medicinal plants, the health potential in the fungus is also related to the conditions under which it is grown.
The highest quality chaga comes from harsh climates with larger swings in temperature, such as Siberia, Finland, North Korea and parts of the North American continent. Russia has a long history of commercially harvesting chaga, which had mostly stayed within the country until recently. Wild-harvested chaga is in greater demand but needs years to fully develop.
However, while the source of wild-harvested chaga is immense, one researcher concluded it may not be economically feasible to travel deep into the Siberian forest to harvest it commercially.
Wild grown chaga in natural environmental conditions have the highest levels of medicinal bioactive compounds, but some benefit has been derived from the melanins extracted from cultured biomass.34
Chaga is most commonly used by Westerners as tea. Brewing the tea correctly yields an earthy, natural tasting tea with hints of vanilla. Fresh chaga is susceptible to mold, so storing it correctly is vital. Discover how to properly brew and store chaga tea in "Chaga Tea: Benefits of This Unusual but Health-Boosting Beverage."
1 What does a zinc ionophore do?
A zinc ionophore is a zinc transport molecule that facilitates the entry of zinc into the cell. Learn more.
2 How did Bill Gates gain such tremendous political power?
Bill Gates has used "charity" as a way to gain tremendous political power. The true beneficiaries of Gates philanthropic endeavors tend to be those who are already rich beyond comprehension, including Gates' own charitable foundation. Learn more.
3 Which of the following supplements is now recommended by researchers to reduce your risk of COVID-19 infection and death?
An April 2020 scientific review presents evidence that vitamin D supplementation could reduce risk of COVID-19 infection and death. Researchers recommend raising your vitamin D level 40 to 60 ng/mL (100–150 nmol/L). "For treatment of people who become infected with COVID-19, higher vitamin D3 doses might be useful," the researchers state. Learn more.
4 During World War II, in order to supply their own fruits and vegetables, many Americans:
During this time, many Americans also planted "victory gardens" in order to supply their own fruits and vegetables. Learn more.
5 Why does the COVID-19 virus appear so frightening?
Published papers by Chinese scientists suggest viruses were synthesized in a laboratory and they later may have become COVID-19. Learn more.
6 Which of the following is a selective inhibitor of highly damaging peroxynitrites and hydroxyl radicals?
Molecular hydrogen (H2 gas) selectively reduces peroxynitrites and hydroxyl radicals. Learn more.
7 What type of virus causes COVID-19?
The infectious agent causing the current pandemic is called SARS-CoV-2 — SARS standing for "serious acute respiratory infection" and CoV-2 indicating that it's a second type of SARS coronavirus. Learn more.
The debate about whether the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine is an effective treatment for COVID-19 continues, as a Chinese trial1,2,3,4 comparing clinical outcomes of those treated with the drug and those receiving standard of care alone reports “disappointing” results.
Seventy-five COVID-19 patients at 16 Chinese treatment centers received 1,200 milligrams of hydroxychloroquine in addition to standard of care for the first three days of treatment, followed by a maintenance dose of 800 mg per day for two weeks in mild to moderate cases and three weeks for severe cases. Another 75 patients received standard of care only.
The primary endpoint was a 28-day negative conversion rate of SARS-CoV-2 (viral load reduction). Secondary endpoints included improvement rate of clinical symptoms and the normalization of C-reactive protein and blood lymphocyte count within 28 days.
According to the authors, the hydroxychloroquine group only had a 28-day negative conversion rate of 85.4% compared to the control group’s rate of 81.3%. No difference in the alleviation of symptoms was observed between the two groups.
Adverse events were also higher in the hydroxychloroquine group (30%) compared to controls (8.8%). You can find a listing of the adverse events in Table 2 of the study.5 The most common adverse event, at 10%, was diarrhea. That said, the authors point out that:6
“A significant efficacy of HCQ [hydroxychloroquine] on alleviating symptoms was observed when the confounding effects of anti-viral agents were removed in the post-hoc analysis (Hazard ratio, 8.83, 95%CI, 1.09 to 71.3).
This was further supported by a significantly greater reduction of CRP (6.986 in SOC [standard of care] plus HCQ versus 2.723 in SOC, milligram/liter, P=0.045) conferred by the addition of HCQ, which also led to more rapid recovery of lymphopenia, albeit no statistical significance.
Conclusions: The administration of HCQ did not result in a higher negative conversion rate but more alleviation of clinical symptoms than SOC alone in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 without receiving antiviral treatment, possibly through anti-inflammatory effects. Adverse events were significantly increased in HCQ recipients but no apparently increase of serious adverse events.”
A few things are worthy to note about this study. Aside from its small size, the patients received a far higher dose of hydroxychloroquine than typically used in the U.S. — 1,200 milligrams for the first three days, followed 800 mg per day for two to three weeks, compared to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s suggested dosage of 800 mg on Day 1, followed by 400 mg per day for four to seven days, depending on severity.7
Secondly, most patients had mild disease with little hypoxemia, and thirdly, treatment was administered quite late, on average 16 to 17 days after the onset of disease. Commenting on the findings, Josh Fargas, associate professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Vermont writes:8
“Much of the pathogenesis of critical illness seems to result from dysregulated inflammation, rather than direct viral cytopathic effect. This raises a question of whether any antiviral treatment will be beneficial for late-presenting patients with severe illness.
Of course, it is possible that earlier use of hydroxychloroquine could be beneficial (e.g., perhaps at the first signs of illness on an out-patient basis). This is under investigation and additional data is likely to be forthcoming soon. Even if this does work in the outpatient clinic, it would probably have little impact on the management of these patients within the intensive care unit.”
Perhaps most importantly, however, is the absence of zinc, which Fargas does not mention. We now know that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine act as zinc ionophores,9,10 meaning they shuttle zinc into your cells, and zinc appears to be a “magic ingredient” required to prevent viral infection.11
If given early, zinc along with a zinc ionophore should, at least theoretically, help lower the viral load and prevent the immune system from becoming overloaded. Without zinc, hydroxychloroquine may be more or less useless.
So, in my view, I doubt this study is worth placing too much stock in, seeing how it did not administer supplemental zinc. As noted in the preprint paper, “Does Zinc Supplementation Enhance the Clinical Efficacy of Chloroquine / Hydroxychloroquine to Win Todays Battle Against COVID-19?” published April 8, 2020:12
“Besides direct antiviral effects, CQ/HCQ [chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine] specifically target extracellular zinc to intracellular lysosomes where it interferes with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity and coronavirus replication.
As zinc deficiency frequently occurs in elderly patients and in those with cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease, or diabetes, we hypothesize that CQ/HCQ plus zinc supplementation may be more effective in reducing COVID-19 morbidity and mortality than CQ or HCQ in monotherapy. Therefore, CQ/HCQ in combination with zinc should be considered as additional study arm for COVID-19 clinical trials.”
In related news, a Brazilian chloroquine trial13,14 stopped the high-dose arm of the study early due to patients developing ventricular tachychardia, a dangerous heart rhythm problem. As reported by Live Science:15
“The Brazilian researchers planned to enroll 440 people in their study to test whether chloroquine is a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19. Participants took either a ‘high dose’ of the drug (600 milligrams twice daily for 10 days) or a ‘low dose’ (450 mg for five days, with a double dose only on the first day) …
However, after enrolling just 81 patients, the researchers saw some concerning signs. Within a few days of starting the treatment, more patients in the high dose group experienced heart rhythm problems than did those in the low dose group. And two patients in the high dose group developed a fast, abnormal heart rate known as ventricular tachychardia before they died.”
As explained in my previous article, “Antimalarial Medications: A COVID-19 Treatment Option?” chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been shown to be effective in the lab against the SARS coronavirus that appeared in 2003.16,17,18 Laboratory testing also suggests chloroquine is effective in cell cultures against COVID-19 when combined with an antiviral drug, remdesivir.19
However, chloroquine (Aralen) appears to be a more hazardous choice than hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), which is a derivative of chloroquine.20 Both use the same pathway, but hydroxychloroquine is thought to be about 40% less toxic21 and, overall, has a safer side effect profile.22,23
Considering the risks of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, and the evidence suggesting the reason these drugs work for COVID-19 is because they act as zinc ionophores, it’s worth questioning whether other more natural zinc ionophores can be used.
One prime example would be quercetin, which is a naturally occurring zinc ionophore.24 As reported by the Green Stars Project,25 “Researchers from Oak Ridge National Lab used the world’s most powerful supercomputer, SUMMIT, to look for small molecules that might inhibit the COVID-19 spike protein from interacting with human cells and, interestingly, quercetin is fifth on that list.”26
Quercetin is one of only three natural products found to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The only natural product found to be slightly more effective is luteolin, a polyphenol found in radicchio, green peppers, serrano and green hot chili peppers, chicory, celery and many other foods.27
Quercetin is another flavonols compound found in a variety of foods, including apples, Brassica vegetables, capers, onions, tea and tomatoes, just to name a few. It’s also contained in medicinal products such as Ginko biloba, St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) and elderberry (Sambucus canadensis).
Research has already demonstrated that quercetin is a powerful immune booster and broad-spectrum antiviral. As noted in a 2016 study28 in the journal Nutrients, quercetin’s mechanisms of action include the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) production in macrophages.
TNF-α is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation, secreted by activated macrophages, a type of immune cell that digests foreign substances, microbes and other harmful or damaged components. Quercetin also inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and histamine by modulating calcium influx into the cell.29
According to this paper, quercetin also stabilizes mast cells and has “a direct regulatory effect on basic functional properties of immune cells,” which allows it to inhibit “a huge panoply of molecular targets in the micromolar concentration range, either by down-regulating or suppressing many inflammatory pathways and functions.”30
Another 2016 study31 concluded it helps modulate the NLRP3 inflammasome, an immune system component involved in the uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory cytokines that occurs during a cytokine storm.
In vitro studies32,33,34 have shown quercetin exerts antiviral activity against SARS-CoV, and preliminary findings35 suggest quercetin can inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease as well. You can get even more details about the anti-inflammatory and antiviral powers of quercetin in “Quercetin Lowers Your Risk for Viral Illnesses.”
The good news is researchers are in fact planning to study the use of quercetin against COVID-19.36 As reported by Maclean’s,37 Canadian researchers Michel Chrétien and Majambu Mbikay began investigating quercetin in the aftermath of the SARS epidemic that broke out across 26 countries in 2003.
They discovered a derivative of quercetin provided broad-spectrum protection against a wide range of viruses, including SARS.38,39 The Ebola outbreak in 2014 offered another chance to investigate quercetin’s antiviral powers and, here too, they found it effectively prevented infection in mice, “even when administered only minutes before infection.”
So, when the COVID-19 outbreak was announced in Wuhan City, China, in late December 2019, Chrétien contacted colleagues in China with an offer to help. In February 2020, Chrétien and his team received an official invitation to begin clinical trials. According to Maclean’s:40
“The Canadian and Chinese scientists would collaborate on the trials, which would include about 1,000 test patients. Chrétien and Mbikay plan to join colleagues from the non-profit International Consortium of Antivirals — which Chrétien co-founded with Jeremy Carver in 2004 as a response to the SARS epidemic — in manning a 24/7 communications centre as soon as clinical trials go ahead.
The U.S.-based Food and Drug Administration has already approved quercetin as safe for human consumption, which means the researchers can skip testing on animals. If the treatment works, it’ll be readily available … Chrétien’s team says their treatment would cost only $2 a day.”
While the COVID-19 pandemic is in full swing — and for any future influenza season — supplementing with quercetin and zinc may be a good idea for many, in order to boost your immune system’s innate ability to ward off infectious illness. As for dosage, here are some basic recommendations:
• Quercetin — According to research from Appalachian State University in North Carolina, taking 500 mg to 1,000 mg of quercetin per day for 12 weeks results in “large but highly variable increases in plasma quercetin … unrelated to demographic or lifestyle factors.”41
• Zinc (and copper) — When it comes to zinc, remember that more is not necessarily better. In fact, it can backfire. When taking zinc, you also need to be mindful of maintaining a healthy zinc-to-copper ratio. As noted by Chris Masterjohn, who has a Ph.D. in nutritional sciences,42 in an article43 and series of Twitter posts:44
“In one study, 300mg/day of zinc as two divided doses of 150 mg zinc sulfate decreased important markers of immune function, such as the ability of immune cells known as polymorphonuclear leukocytes to migrate toward and consume bacteria.
The most concerning effect in the context of COVID-19 is that it lowered the lymphocyte stimulation index 3 fold. This is a measure of the ability of T cells to increase their numbers in response to a perceived threat. The reason this is so concerning in the context of COVID-19 is that poor outcomes are associated with low lymphocytes …
The negative effect on lymphocyte proliferation found with 300 mg/day and the apparent safety in this regard of 150 mg/d suggests that the potential for hurting the immune system may begin somewhere between 150-300 mg/d …
It is quite possible that the harmful effect of 300 mg/d zinc on the lymphocyte stimulation index is mediated mostly or completely by induction of copper deficiency …
The negative effect of zinc on copper status has been shown with as little as 60 mg/d zinc. This intake lowers the activity of superoxide dismutase, an enzyme important to antioxidant defense and immune function that depends both on zinc and copper …
A study done with relatively low intakes of zinc suggested that acceptable ratios of zinc to copper range from 2:1 to 15:1 in favor of zinc. Copper appears safe to consume up to a maximum of 10 mg/d.
Notably, the maximum amount of zinc one could consume while staying in the acceptable range of zinc-to-copper ratios and also staying within the upper limit for copper is 150 mg/d.”
Masterjohn goes into even greater detail in his zinc article, discussing maximum absorption rates and much more.45 In summary, he recommends taking 7 mg to 15 mg of zinc four times a day, ideally on an empty stomach, or with a phytate-free food.
The recommended dietary allowance in the U.S is 11 mg for adult men and 8 mg for adult women, with slightly higher doses recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women,46 so we’re not talking about taking significantly higher dosages.
Additionally, you can take one zinc acetate lozenge per day, which will provide you with an additional 18 mg of zinc. If you’re exposed to the virus, take one additional lozenge after the exposure.
Masterjohn stresses that you’ll want to keep your total zinc intake below 150 mg per day to avoid negative effects on your immune system. He also recommends getting at least 1 mg of copper from food and supplements for every 15 mg of zinc you take.
Keep in mind that there are many food sources of zinc, so a supplement may not be necessary. I eat about three-fourths of a pound of ground bison or lamb a day, which has 20 mg of zinc. I personally don’t take any zinc supplement other than what I get from my food, which is likely in an optimal form to maximize absorption.
In the life of scientific evidence and research, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has only been around a relatively short time, less than six months. When the number of infections across the world began to grow rapidly, scientists scrambled to collect data and make conclusions to reduce the spread and improve treatments.
The pandemic has exposed several weaknesses, such as poor preparation with personal protective equipment stockpiles and expired N95 masks, as well as inflexible food distribution processes in the dairy, fish and produce markets.
The pandemic has changed the world, potentially for years to come. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow indicated that health care providers would be influencing decisions related to reopening the economy. He anticipates after returning to work and school, people may have to submit to routine temperature taking, stay home when sick and undergo widespread testing, continuing:1
“We are aware that things are going to be different. That’s going to be a new feature of American life. And I don’t know how quickly that gets up and going, but it’s going to be very, very important because we obviously want to prevent any recurrences.”
The government has made moves to reduce your right to privacy, as they engage with large data mining companies like Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon to track your movements. Bill Gates took the next step, suggesting digital certificates should be used to record your vaccinations, medical tests and illness.
Yet, scientific evidence hasn’t reached a point to make these types of interventions necessary or potentially useful. It appears that instead of addressing more flexible and responsive solutions, corporations are pouring their time and energy into what serves their specific corporate and financial needs.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus triggers COVID-19 infections, and how it is spread continues to be investigated. Experts believe most infections are acquired through respiratory droplets that are released when a person speaks, sneezes or coughs.2
These droplets may land on your face, hands or surrounding surfaces. Experts believe you may become infected by touching a surface where the virus was deposited and then touching your face with that same hand.
In order to develop recommendations that would reasonably protect people, scientists investigated the environments where the virus appeared to spread more rapidly. In one study from the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong, scientists found that the rate of infection with COVID-19 rose in interior spaces.3
The researchers tracked the number of infected from case reports gathered by the Municipal Health Commissions in 320 municipalities in China. They did not include the Hubei province where the virus reportedly originated. The data from January 4, 2020, to February 11, 2020, included 318 outbreaks which met the criteria of three or more cases being involved.
In total, there were 1245 confirmed infections in 120 municipalities. Their results support many of the previous estimates that each infected person would spread the virus to two or three others.4 In this study they found 53.8% involved three cases and 26.4% involved four.
What was most interesting was that the highest number of infections were spread in the home (79.9%) followed by a variety of methods of transportation (34%), including planes, trains, cars and buses.
Only one outbreak of cases — an infection passed from one individual to at least three others — was identified from exposure in an outdoor environment. The researchers wrote this "confirms that sharing indoor space is a major SARS-CoV-2 infection risk."
German scientists are also searching for answers about how the SARS-CoV-2 is spread. Leading German scientist Hendrik Streeck, professor and director of the Institute of Virology at the University Hospital in Bonnhas, is looking for more answers. He told a reporter from the Daily Mail5 that the virus may have a different spread pattern than originally believed.
Streeck cultured the home of one family in the district of Heinsberg, a region with 250,000 people and a high number of infected individuals (this is not the city of Heinsberg, which has less than 41,000 citizens). While there were sick people in the home, the scientists didn't find "any live virus on any surface." He will now oversee a team of 40 researchers in Heinsberg seeking more information from multiple homes.
The area was estimated to have more than 1,300 confirmed cases and 37 deaths by April 2, 2020. Yet, in the first home that was tested, he didn't find the virus, even on doorknobs or animal fur. Streeck commented:6
"We know it's not a smear infection that is transmitted by touching objects, but that close dancing and exuberant celebrations have led to infections."
The unique study planned for Heinsberg will essentially make the city population a life-sized laboratory for the virus. Streeck was encouraged by the anticipated data, telling parliamentarians:7
“This is a big chance for the whole of Germany. We’ll be gathering information and practical tips as to how to deal with Covid-19 and how we can achieve further containment of it, without our lives having to come to a standstill over a period of years.
If there are ways of preventing the illness from spreading in our environment, we want to know what they are, with the goal of finding out how we can freely move about in the environment together.
On the basis of our findings we’ll be able to make recommendations, which politicians can use to guide their decision-making. It could be that the measures currently in place are fine, and we say: ‘Don’t reduce them.’ But I don’t expect that, I expect the opposite, that we will be able to come up with a range of proposals as to how the curfews can be reduced.”
The hope is that by having a better understanding of how the virus is spread, it could help reduce infections worldwide. Germany has also begun testing for other countries. Samples tested by Public Health England are taking four days to process, as compared to two days in Germany. As the Daily Mail reports:8
"It was also revealed today that hundreds of NHS workers' coronavirus swabs have reportedly been flown to Germany because the results are coming back in half the time."
Long before antibiotics were discovered and widely used, the ocean air was thought of as a cure. It appeared to improve illnesses without drugs or side effects. Dr. Thomas Ferkol, pediatric pulmonologist, spoke with a Wall Street Journal reporter and said there are ample amounts of anecdotal evidence that children with cystic fibrosis respond well to the ocean air.9
This knowledge prompted a study in which researchers evaluated the effects of inhaled hypertonic saline solution over 48 weeks. The results added another tactic in the treatment of cystic fibrosis, as doctors now routinely prescribe 7% sodium chloride nebulizer solution.
Of the last three influenza pandemics — 1918, 1957 and 1968 — it was the H1N1 pandemic in 1918-1919 that claimed the most lives.10 It was originally estimated that the flu killed 21 million worldwide, many of which occurred from secondary bacterial infections.
However, more recent algorithms suggest the number was likely between 50 million and 100 million. The fatality rate was near that of other flu infections, between 1% and 3%.
The idea of getting plenty of fresh air and sunlight began during this pandemic. William Brooks, then Surgeon General of the Massachusetts State Guard, wrote an article in the American Journal of Public Health, detailing the results they experienced after treating flu patients in an outdoor hospital.11
When hospitals were overwhelmed with patients, a tent hospital was set up on Corey Hill for sailors on the Navy ships docked in Boston harbor. While taking histories from incoming patients doctors realized those with the worst infections were from areas of ships with the worst ventilation.
In an effort to help the patients, they were taken outside their tent on pleasant days. The Surgeon General wrote the results on the first day were startling:12
"The charts of these patients are very instructive and clearly demonstrate the great value of plenty of air and sunshine for patients suffering from influenza and pneumonia."
At the end of four weeks the tent hospital was closed as the worst was over for those on the Navy ships. During that time, 351 of the most seriously ill were sent to the tent hospital, yet only 35 died, a far lower number than expected considering how seriously ill they were. Brooks concluded,13 "The efficacy of open air treatment has been absolutely proven, and one has only to try it to discover its value."
Richard Hobday, Ph.D., is a strong proponent of the benefits of fresh air and sunshine.14 He continues to educate and inform people that many have experienced benefits without side effects common to drugs and vaccines.15 Those who were treated outside were less likely to be exposed to other infectious bacteria found in hospital areas, a current concern for hospitalized patients.16
At the time, researchers theorized that creating cross ventilation in hospitals may have the same effect. However, it was during this time that antibiotics were introduced and starting to become more common. This movement replaced the idea of investigating the effects of open-air treatment.
There is emerging information that most are infected with SARS-CoV-2 in enclosed spaces, such as at home, and the potential the virus is not spread through contact with inanimate objects. Therefore, opening your windows to create cross ventilation, especially if someone is ill, may help reduce the spread.
As Ferkol explained to The Wall Street Journal reporter, the sea air helped improve the health of patients with cystic fibrosis. There are several explanations which have yet to be investigated.
To be clear, none of the research on open air treatments or ocean air for children with cystic fibrosis mentioned or considered the effect of grounding. Yet, it may be an idea worth considering. Simply placing your bare feet on the ground helps reduce free radicals in your body, which in turn reduces chronic inflammation.
The effects of negative air ions were discovered 100 years ago; their effect on health and wellness is still under study.17 Interestingly, there are more negative air ions near the ocean than are found in other geographical areas.
Exposure to the sun boosts the production of vitamin D, which is especially helpful for those who spend a great deal of time indoors. Boosting your vitamin D levels with supplements will help support your immune system. However, the only way to know if you need supplementation is to test your vitamin D levels.
Evidence from the 1918 flu pandemic suggests that sun exposure may also reduce symptoms, along with the severity and length of a viral illness.18 As detailed in "Vitamin D Prevents Infections," research shows that high-dose vitamin D supplementation lowers the risk of acquiring respiratory illnesses and lung infections in the elderly. As noted by one researcher in the study:19
"After studying these patients for a year, we found a 40 percent reduction in acute respiratory illness among those who took higher doses of vitamin D. Vitamin D can improve the immune system's ability to fight infections because it bolsters the first line of defense of the immune system."
